Former JMO to be served indictments

Former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Ananda Samarasekera who is accused of concealing evidence related to the murder of national rugger player Wasim Thajudeen has been summoned by Colombo High Court to appear before it on August 28.

Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakarathna issued the summons on Thursday, August 16 to serve Samarasekara with the indictments.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera filed indictments against Samarasekara earlier this month under section 198 of the Penal Code.

The Attorney General’s Department filing the indictments said that Dr. Samarasekera had ruled the cause of death of Thajudeen as an accident and fire.

However, following an order by the court, a special medical committee was appointed and a post mortem was performed for the second time in which evidence revealed external injuries caused by a blunt object and fire as the cause of death.

Thajudeen’s charred body was found in the passenger seat of a car near Shalika grounds in Narahenpita. The Attorney General has accused Samarasekera of removing evidence from Thajudeen’s body and delaying reports of the investigation in the hope of covering up the murder.